Daily Archives: November 24, 2024

Chinese scientists claim they have built a Death Star-inspired beam weapon

Do you remember the moment in “Star Wars” when the Death Star destroys Alderaan? Eight laser beams converge at a single point to form a super-powered laser that obliterates the planet. It was a memorable scene that demonstrated the unrelenting power of the Empire.Although it is unclear whether they were inspired by the scene, Chinese scientists claim they have created a new type of microwave weapon that combines several high-powered electromagnetic waves. They can then concentrate them onto a target.The weapon system consists of multiple microwave-transmitting vehicles that are deployed to different locations. Each of the vehicles fire microwaves with high-precision synchronization. These merge together into a powerful energy beam to attack one target.This is a lot harder than it seems. Microwaves are narrow beams of energy that need to be precisely aligned to then converge. This means that the timings with which they are fired need to be controlled to within millionths of a second.According to the research team, each microwave vehicle also has to be precisely positioned to within a millimeter. China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system is capable of providing positioning accuracy to within 0.4 inch (1 centimeter), but that still does not meet the requirements of the new weapon system.Related: ‘It invites us to reconsider our notion of shadow’: Laser beams can actually cast their own shadows, scientists discoverTo attempt to overcome this, laser-ranging auxiliary positioning devices were installed on each transmitting vehicle to achieve the millimeter-accuracy positioning system. The vehicles must also be perfectly level. Any changes in the surface mean that microwave emitters will not be properly aligned.Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter nowGet the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.The firing synchronization has to be within 170 picoseconds (or 170 trillionths of a second). To put this into perspective, a typical household computer takes 330 picoseconds to complete a single processing cycle.To overcome this challenge, the scientists connected the transmitting platforms using optical fibers to ensure they were properly synchronized. Each of the weapon system vehicles was also directly controlled by a mobile command center.According to the South China Morning Post, a scientist involved in the project claimed the combined power of the converging microwave beams has a combined effect of “1+1 >2” — despite such a claim breaking the law of conservation of energy. Nonetheless, a powerful combined microwave is more useful than multiple smaller microwave sources.Microwaves cannot operate over long distances as dust and moisture scatter the waves. This can be countered by increasing the power, but doing so presents significant logistical challenges as batteries currently do not have the energy storage capacity to provide that amount of energy.Quite possibly, the Chinese research team has been able to achieve a converging microwave weapon system in a controlled environment. However, the real world is vastly more chaotic, which will present huge challenges for any technology that relies on such a high degree of precision.

Scientists Identify the Brain Region Tied to PTSD

By Martha A. Lavallie
Scientists have pinpointed the neurological epicenter of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), shedding new light on how traumatic experiences reshape our brains.
A recent study involving over 1.2 million people has identified 95 regions in the genome associated with PTSD risk, including 80 previously unknown locations.1
This promises to revolutionize our understanding of trauma-related disorders and pave the way for more targeted treatments. What secrets lie within these newly discovered genetic regions, and how might they transform our approach to healing the invisible wounds of trauma?
Hypervigilance & Emotional Processing
At the heart of this neurological storm lies the amygdala, a small almond-shaped structure buried deep within the brain. (ref)
Long known as the fear center, the amygdala plays a crucial role in processing emotions and forming memories associated with intense experiences.
Studies showed that in individuals with PTSD, this region becomes hyperactive, constantly on high alert for potential threats.
Overreaction & Symptom Manifestation
Researchers have found that the amygdala in PTSD sufferers responds more intensely to fear-inducing stimuli, even when there’s no real danger present.
This overreaction leads to the hallmark symptoms of PTSD: flashbacks, nightmares, and heightened anxiety.
By understanding the amygdala’s role, scientists hope to develop interventions that can calm this overactive fear response and provide relief to those haunted by past traumas.
Stress-Induced Shrinkage
While the amygdala sounds the alarm, the hippocampus acts as the brain’s librarian, cataloging and retrieving memories. (ref) In PTSD, this delicate system goes awry.
Studies have shown that chronic stress and trauma can actually shrink the hippocampus, impairing its ability to properly store and contextualize memories.
Memory Distortion & Therapeutic Potential
This shrinkage explains why PTSD sufferers often struggle to distinguish between past and present threats.
Without a properly functioning hippocampus, traumatic memories remain vivid and intrusive, bleeding into everyday life.
Researchers are now exploring ways to protect and even regenerate hippocampal neurons, offering hope for restoring healthy memory function in trauma survivors.
Emotional Regulation Impairment
The prefrontal cortex, located just behind the forehead, is the brain’s executive center, responsible for rational thought and decision-making.
In PTSD, this region often takes a back seat to the more primitive fear responses of the amygdala.
Brain imaging showed decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex of PTSD patients, particularly when they’re confronted with trauma-related triggers.
Restoring Cognitive Control
This imbalance between emotion and reason explains why individuals with PTSD may react disproportionately to seemingly harmless situations.
By strengthening the prefrontal cortex’s ability to regulate the amygdala, researchers hope to help PTSD sufferers regain control over their emotional responses.

Cognitive-behavioral therapies and mindfulness practices have shown promise in reactivating this crucial brain region.
Disrupted Neural Connectivity
As our understanding of PTSD deepens, it’s becoming clear that the disorder involves more than just isolated brain regions. Instead, it disrupts entire neural networks, altering how different parts of the brain communicate with each other.
Advanced neuroimaging techniques have revealed abnormal connectivity patterns in PTSD patients, particularly between the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex.
Implications for Resilience & Treatment
This network-level dysfunction helps explain the complex and varied symptoms of PTSD. It’s not just about fear or memory but how the brain integrates information and responds to the world.
By mapping these altered neural pathways, scientists are gaining insights into why some individuals are more resilient to trauma while others develop long-lasting psychological wounds.
The implications of these findings extend far beyond the realm of PTSD. They offer a window into the fundamental workings of the human mind and how it adapts to extreme stress.
Source:

ScienceDaily

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This post was previously published on Viral Chatter.
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Voice (Nov. 24): Winter Haven used flawed science in fluoride decision

Winter Haven’s fluoride decision based on flawed researchAs a retired dentist who practiced in Polk County for almost 40 years, I was shocked to see that the Winter Haven City Commission voted to discontinue adding therapeutic levels of fluoride to its water supply. Over 80 years of research and experience has shown oral fluoride in the proper level to be the safest, most effective and economical way to prevent tooth decay, the most prevalent disease known to man, and is needed today more than ever due to our high-sugar diets.It is most effective when given from birth to age 14, while the teeth are forming, so that it is incorporated into the tooth structure. Topical fluoride, like in toothpaste, is not nearly as effective at preventing cavities.Are we going to listen to educated health professionals, or to those who quote faulty research and “alternate facts”?  What is next—stopping childhood vaccinations for diphtheria, whopping cough, and polio? The truth is millions of lives have been improved by following true science instead of listening to quackery.  With the internet, there is no reason we cannot all research the science and think for ourselves logically, instead of listening to those who will send our health back to the Middle Ages.Charles Fort, Fort MeadeLetter from commissioner:Winter Haven’s decision on fluoridated water came after months of discussionWorried about election security? Observe the Canvass BoardOver the last few years, Floridians have been increasingly concerned about election security. Many fear that elections may no longer be free and fair.For residents of Polk County who still have concerns one way to allay fears is through observing what goes on in the Supervisor of Elections office before, during and after an election by attending meetings of the Canvass Board as an observer.There are no qualifications for attending these meetings which cover everything from pre-election machine checks to mismatched signatures, overvotes, voter intent, overseas ballots and provisional ballots.The Canvass Board for the 2024 Election is composed of two judges and a sitting member of the Polk County Commission. The board meets in one room while members of the public observe through class windows in a separate room.There are microphones so that observers can hear the discussion and ballots decisions are displayed on an overhead projector. Usually, an SOE staff member or the Supervisor of Elections herself is present to explain what is going on and to answer questions.Being an observer is an excellent experience and hopefully one that will serve to increase confidence in the integrity of the Polk County election system.Jo Shim, LakelandVoice of the People (Oct. 27, 2024):Predatory pricing in senior communities?Florida lawmakers should listen to the 57% on abortion accessDemocracy works in unique ways, but the most significant is when the voters speak, their representatives should act in favor of the voters’ choice. We do not expect representatives to uphold the losing vote count over the winning one, and we cry foul when that happens.Which means something interesting must happen in Florida over the next legislative session: Our state legislators should work to find a proper compromise over reproductive rights in this state.The voters spoke clearly, so it makes no sense for legislators to uphold the six-week abortion ban, given that more than 57% of voters saw it to be unfit.Yet, in fairness (an ill use of that word here, I’d say) to the amendment process, there were not enough votes to pass Amendment 4. So there is no need for the legislators to enact policy that protects abortion rights up to viability.However, if they do not act to repeal the six-week ban and find a suitable compromise, say the 15 week ban our supreme court found legal last spring, then our legislators are not doing their job.Their job is not to uphold the minority but rather to follow the lead of the majority.Ben Graffam, LakelandVoice of the People (Oct. 20, 2024):Retired generals have free-speech rights tooAn issue with columnsIt must be nice to be a liberal opinion writer for the Lakeland Ledger. Every week, R. Bruce Anderson is given space for many hundreds of words to opine on any liberal topic of his choosing. The rest of us only get 200 words every four weeks to voice our opinions.With only 200 words available, opinions must be limited to statements/conclusions with very little space for explanation or evidence. There is certainly insufficient space to counter all of the statements made by Anderson.We all know that Anderson is well educated, but unfortunately that does not make him smart. Why would anyone refer to the incoming governing party’s administration as a “clown act”? What does that accomplish? If he has a particular problem with an aspect of an administration then he should give examples and justification. He certainly has the space. We can adamantly disagree and still be civil.Perhaps his column is written only for liberals. If that is true, where is the corresponding column for conservatives?As Anderson’s Nov. 17 column states, change can be good, but I would add: only when the lives of the American people are noticeably improved.Edward McDonald, AuburndaleWant to contribute?Send letters to the editor to [email protected], or Voice of the People, P.O. Box 408, Lakeland, FL, 33802. Submit on the website at http://tinyurl.com/28hnh3xj, or go to TheLedger.com, click on the menu arrow at the top of the website and click Submit a Letter. Letters must be 200 words or less and meet standards of decency and taste.

Scientists Create World’s Thinnest Spaghetti

The study, published in Nanoscale Advances, states that the new brand of pasta smashed the previous record for the thinnest pasta lunga by approximately a thousand times. Since each individual strand was too narrow to be clearly captured by any form of visible light camera or microscope, the researchers used a “scanning electron microscope, scanning the mat with a focused beam of electrons and creating an image based on the pattern of electrons that are deflected”.The ‘near-invisible’ pasta is not intended to be a new food as it will overcook in under a second. It has been created because extremely fine strands in it, called nanofibers, could have significant medical uses.The team achieved the desired result by using a technique called ‘electrospinning’ to create the nanofibers, with diameters of 372 nanometers (billionths of a meter), from a flour mixture. They used flour and formic acid rather than water as the formic acid breaks up the helices (giant stacks of spirals) that make up starch.Additionally, they had to warm up the mixture for several hours before slowly cooling it back down to make sure it was the right consistency.”To make spaghetti, you push a mixture of water and flour through metal holes. In our study, we did the same except we pulled our flour mixture through with an electrical charge. It’s literally spaghetti but much smaller,” said co-author Dr. Adam Clancy.The formed nanofibers are hydrophilic, and can be used as a cheaper, greener replacement for starch in biodegradable, biosourced nanofiber applications, such as next-generation bandaging, or carbonized super capacitor electrodes.”Nanofibers, such as those made of starch, show potential for use in wound dressings as they are very porous. In addition, nanofibers are being explored for use as a scaffold to regrow tissue, as they mimic the extra-cellular matrix – a network of proteins and other molecules that cells build to support themselves,” said co-author Professor Gareth Williams.